- Waymo and Tesla are competing for robotaxi dominance in Austin, taking advantage of its favourable regulatory environment and population growth.
- Autonomous and aerial mobility is positioned as the future of urban transport, driving innovations but also safety concerns.
The epicentre of autonomous mobility
Austin, known as the Silicon Valley of Texas, has become the epicentre of competition for the dominance of robotaxis. Leading autonomous technology companies are jostling for space in this growing city, transforming it into a laboratory for the future of urban transport.
Autonomous vehicles: the future of mobility
Autonomous vehicles are transport systems that can operate without human intervention, using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, cameras, sensors and machine learning algorithms. They aim to provide safe and efficient transport, reducing human error and improving the flow of urban traffic.
Currently, these systems are divided into several levels of autonomy, from level 1 (driver assistance) to level 5 (fully autonomous driving). Robotaxis generally operate at levels 4 or 5, which means that they can perform all driving tasks in certain conditions without the need for a human driver.
In addition to ground-based autonomous taxis, urban aerial mobility projects, such as air taxis, are being developed to decongest cities using autonomous flying vehicles. Companies such as Joby Aviation and Volocopter are already testing prototypes that could enter commercial service in the next few years.
Waymo and Uber: a strategic alliance
Alphabet subsidiary Waymo has entered into a partnership with Uber to offer autonomous taxi services in Austin. Since the beginning of March, Uber users can request rides in Waymo’s autonomous vehicles through the app, covering an area of 95 square kilometres.
The alliance works in such a way that Waymo is in charge of equipping and maintaining the vehicles, while Uber manages availability and interaction with customers. In addition, the Spanish company Avomo collaborates in the maintenance of the fleet in the city.
Tesla joins the battle
For its part, Tesla plans to launch its own robotaxi service in Austin in June 2025. This innovative service will use Tesla vehicles equipped with the unattended version of the Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, enabling fully autonomous operations.
Tesla will initially evaluate the accuracy of the stops and the efficiency of the billing system before expanding the service to other US cities.
Challenges and concerns
The rapid adoption of robotaxis in Austin has raised concerns among residents and local authorities. Since July 2023, at least 75 incidents involving autonomous vehicles have been reported, including collisions and situations where driverless taxis ignored police instructions.
These concerns have prompted consideration of new regulations requiring companies to register their fleets and put in place additional security measures.
A race to the future of transport
The competition in Austin reflects a global trend towards autonomous mobility, with companies like Waymo expanding to other US cities, such as Washington D.C., where they plan to launch their service in 2026.
Austin has established itself as a key stage in the evolution of autonomous vehicles, with technology giants vying to define the future of urban transport. As these initiatives move forward, it will be essential to balance innovation with safety and community acceptance.